TV

ITALICS: Television for the Italian-American Experience

ITALICS, hosted by Anthony J. Tamburri, Dean of the Calandra Institute, brings the best of the Italian-American community to your home each month on CUNY-TV, TW Ch.75 and RCN, Ch.77 in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and The Bronx.

ITALICS premieres the last Wednesday of every month at 10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 11:00 PM. ITALICS will be rebroadcast on the first Saturday of every month at 8:00 PM and the first Sunday at 10:00 AM on CUNY-TV, Ch.75 and RCN, Ch.77 in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and The Bronx; and subsequently on demand at cuny.tv/show/italics.

ITALICS celebrates Women’s History Month! In this One-Hour Special, ITALICS talks to publisher and novelist, Louisa Ermelino; and four women of the theatre: Donna de Matteo, Karen Malpede, Eva Minemar, and Nicole Pandolfo.

Dr. Robert Gallo, Head of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, co-discoverer of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and leading researcher on HIV/AIDS. Celebrity photographer, Alexo Wandael, talks to us about his prolific career – spanning the worlds of fashion, art, portraiture, travel and reportage, as well as his ongoing project, ITALIANY.US.

This episode of ITALICS focuses on the environment. Lucia Grillo goes to the Safina Center at Stony Brook and talks with Doctor Carl Safina about his new book, “Beyond Words,” which gives new perspective on how we view animals. Designer Martin Salerno, founder of the chic – and high-tech – Luca Chiara, joins us in our studio to talk about what inspired his vegan leather accessories line. At the Italianate townhouse where the Columbus Citizens Foundation is housed, NOIAW celebrates three Wise Women: Donna Corrado, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Aging; Carin Guarasci, Professor of Education & Director of New Educators at Wagner College; and Sue Matthews of the non-profit, Conquering Kidz Cancer.

ITALICS closes its 2015 season with story time: Tomie dePaola reads from his classic tale, “Strega Nona” – beloved by children and adults alike, celebrating its 40th Anniversary. Tomie, as the legendary author is known to fans, chats with Lucia Grillo at BAM – Brooklyn Academy of Music. Italian documentarian and critic, founder of Roma Cinema Fest, Mario Sesti talks to Lucia Grillo about the representation of women and exposé of misogyny in Pietrangeli’s films. ITALICS continues its “investigation” of the “new Italian Americans” in an interview with Alessandro Parrello: actor, producer, and founder of West 46th Magazine.

The second in ITALICS’ 9th Season of Italian Heritage and Culture Month Specials, this edition features the Honorable Natalia Quintavalle, Consul General of Italy in New York, and Giorgio van Straten, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in New York.
In her 29 years as a career diplomat, Natalia Quintavalle has worked on U.N. issues - at the Italian Permanent Mission in Geneva, and at the Permanent Mission in New York. She was Italian Consul in Toulouse, First Secretary at the Italian Embassy in Riyadh, and has been Italian Consul General in New York since September 2011, now serving her third term.
Giorgio van Straten is an Italian writer and cultural broker, editor, and translator of major literary works, and a director of the Italian literary magazine “Nuovi argomenti.” He has written for musical theater, served as Chairman of the Orchestra della Toscana, on the Board of Directors of the Biennale di Venezia, President of the Italian Association for the Performing Arts, General Director of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Director of the Palazzo Delle Esposizioni e Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome, and on the Board of Directors of RAI. In 2015 he was named Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in New York. (Taped 10/08/15)​

ITALICS kicks off its 9th Season of Italian Heritage and Culture Month Special Episodes. This edition features Joseph Sciame, Chairman of the Italian Heritage and Culture Month Committee of New York, as well as Angelo Vivolo and Frank Fusaro of the Columbus Citizens Foundation.
Joseph Sciame is Vice President for Community Relations at St. John’s University. He is currently President of the Italian Heritage and Culture Committee, and the Chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations.
Angelo Vivolo is President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation. After a decade teaching, he became a third-generation restaurateur and is the owner of the Vivolo Restaurant Group in New York City, which includes Vivolo’s, Cucina, and Bar Vetro. Frank Fusaro is the Chair of the Board of Governors for the Columbus Citizens Foundation. He is Co-Founder and President of Forum Personnel. (Taped: 10/08/15)

ITALICS continues its coverage on being LGBTQ in Italian America. As a follow-up to our January 2014 episode, “Gay in Italian America,” in this edition, correspondent Lucia Grillo talks with members of the LGBTQ community: Lailah Lancing is a singer-songwriter and actress, whose look inspired that of her friend, actress Laverne Cox, for the film “Grandma,” in theatres now; Margo Singaliese is a veteran actress who has appeared Off-Broadway and on TV in shows such as “The Sopranos;” and filmmaker Mikki del Monico came out while directing his first feature film, which recently had at run at Anthology Film Archives. (Taped: 09/30/15)

In celebration of Italian American legend - Frank Sinatra - ITALICS goes to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center for a conversation with author Charles Granata, amidst the official exhibition of the Frank Sinatra Centennial, “Sinatra: An American Icon,” curated by the GRAMMY Museum® at L.A. LIVE. Granata is author of “Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording;” producer of historic box sets “A Voice in Time, Frank Sinatra in Hollywood” and “Frank Sinatra: The Complete Recordings 1943-1952;” and producer and engineer for Nancy Sinatra’s weekly radio program, “Nancy for Frank,” on Sirius-XM. Granata discusses the vast musical legend the performer left behind as well as the man beyond the talent that earned Sinatra the sobriquet “The Voice:” his political activity and commitment to social justice for a period of his life.

Queens Poet Laureate, Maria Lisella, talks with Anthony Tamburri. Professoressa Margherita (Laura Caparrotti) teaches us Italian summertime words.
Native New Yorker Maria Lisella is a journalist specializing in travel. She is also a poet: her latest poetry collection is titled “Thieves in the Family.” she has produced two chapbooks: “Amore on Hope Street” and “Two Naked Feet .” Maria co-curates the Italian American Writers Association readings in New York City; is vice president of the Vito Marcantonio Forum; and has recently been named Queens Poet Laureate.

ITALICS finds out how an old-school pizzeria in Williamsburg, Brooklyn alters tradition to accommodate its changing clientele. Marina Benedetto of Yeah Dawg talks to us about her vegan, gluten-free hot dogs. Celebrating its 43rd year, the New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators honors distinguished members of the community – actor Paul Sorvino, rock bassist John Regan, “tailor to the stars” Nino Corvato, and a Lifetime Achievement Award to Matilda Raffa Cuomo. ITALICS goes to the state capital – and is joined by governor Andrew Cuomo.